On average, termite control services cost $767 in the U.S. However, the cost youll pay on where you live and how large (or small) your infestation is.
In many cases, it costs less to treat a pre-construction home for termites than it does to eliminate a termite colony that has taken up residence in your home. Here's a closer look at how termite treatment costs differ if you're battling existing colonies or if you need a preventive termite treatment plan.
When combating an existing termite colony, pest control companies typically charge per linear foot, as opposed to the per-square-foot cost used for preventive treatments. Companies use different methods depending on the type of termite, the severity of the infestation and other factors. Popular methods include fumigation, pesticides and the use of natural substances such as orange oil that are toxic to the pests.
Here are some examples of average termite treatment costs for existing colonies:
Liquid treatment of existing subterranean termite colony: $3-$4 per linear foot from Optimus Pest Solutions in Nolensville, Tennessee. Optimus Pest Solutions offers customers a maintenance plan for $75 per year. The plan includes inspection of the property and renewal of the warranty. Similarly, On the Fly Pest Solutions in Apopka, Florida charges approximately $400 for a 2,000-square-foot home at $3-$5 per linear foot. The linear price per foot may be higher for foaming and drilling inside of concrete slabs.
Fumigation treatment of drywood termites: $1,200-$1,500 for a 30,000- to 35,000-cubic-foot home from On the Fly Pest Solutions in Apopka, Florida.
Unlike pesticides or repellents, which are measured by linear foot, the cost of fumigation is measured by cubic feet. This is because the gas fills the airspace of the home to penetrate the wood where the termites are colonizing. The number of levels and square footage of your home will determine the cost of fumigation.
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Some termite control companies charge by the square foot for pre-construction preventive treatment plans. The cost per square foot usually covers labor, pesticide and the company's business overhead.
For example, Mauney's Termite Control in Monroe, North Carolina, works primarily with eastern subterranean termites, which enter homes from underground. The company charges 45 cents to 60 cents per square foot to treat a home for termites. The exact price depends on whether the home has a slab foundation or a crawl space. The company specializes in a liquid treatment called Termidor, which is applied around the home's perimeter and drilled into the slab or concrete foundation areas.
To treat a 2,000-square-foot ranch-style house with a crawl space, Mauney's Termite Control charges an average of $950. Many pest and termite treatments come with a one-year renewable and transferable warranty that averages $100 to $125 per year.
>> Get a Quote Today: Find a Termite Exterminator Near You
The earlier you notice these warning signs of a termite infestation, the better your chances of stopping them before they do major damage to your home:
If you're not sure you have termites, don't panic -- you can a pest control professional to inspect your home.
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A thorough home inspection to assess the extent of the damage and the type of termite treatment needed is an excellent first step toward a termite treatment plan. The cost for an official termite inspection varies by region and may cost $50 to $150 or more. However, some companies may offer a free inspection if you agree to use their termite removal services.
If you're considering buying a new home or are putting your property on the market, a wood-destroying organism (WDO) report or termite inspection can give you key information about the true state of your home. You may also be required to have this special termite inspection done for insurance purposes or as terms of your mortgage. Your state's Department of Agriculture is typically the governing body that regulates the terms of the WDO inspection.
This type of termite inspection is different than a pest inspection, which is done by a pest control company to assess whether you have pests and to recommend a course of treatment. A WDO inspection must follow specific guidelines and can be used for formal purposes to prove the presence (or lack) of wood-destroying organisms. These reports are particularly important for real estate transactions due to the high cost of damage that termites can do if they proceed undetected. The true value of a home may be less than it appears to be if it has been structurally compromised by termites.
>> Think You Have Termites? Your Home Inspected Today
Warranties generally protect homeowners if termites return within a stated time period. Some termite control companies include a warranty in the cost of their services, and others offer a warranty for an additional fee.
A professional contract should spell out exactly what is included in the total cost of treatment. Mauney's Termite Control charges an average of $100 to $125 for a one-year, renewable and transferable warranty.
Getting rid of termites is no easy task. If you have a serious termite infestation, its recommended that you seek the help of a trained pest control professional or exterminator who's qualified to use termite-killing chemicals and equipment.
Professionals use a variety of different termite treatments, including:
The more deeply the termites have infiltrated the home, the higher the cost for treatment. Heavy infestations may also call for multiple treatments, which will also increase costs.
>> Say Goodbye to Termites: Exterminators in Your City
There are some products you can buy in-store that can help you treat your house for termites. For example, you can buy termite bait stakes or a termite killing foam -- such as Spectracide Terminate -- that kills exposed dampwood, subterranean and drywood termites.
However, if you're dealing with a severe or large termite infestation, hiring an exterminator might be your best chance in getting rid of termites.
Although it might be difficult -- if not impossible -- to rid your home completely of termites on your own without the help of a trained professional, there are steps you can take to prevent termites from entering your home.
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Some simple preventive measures can save you a lot of money compared with damage control after termites have entered your home. Here are some tips for keeping termites out:
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It's easy to panic when you find out you have termites, but knowing is half the battle. Instead of rushing to hire the first person you find for the cheapest price, take time to do the following steps:
Be wary of any pest control company that pressures you to act immediately with claims your house might collapse. Finding the right termite control company will give you lasting results and save you money in the long term.
For more hiring tips, out our tips for smart hiring.
Still have questions about the types of termites, termite control, inspections and prevention? Here are the answers to frequently asked questions about termites.
Termites are insects that typically range from 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch in length and have a broad waist and four wings of equal size. Theyre an important part of the natural environment, breaking down decaying trees and other plant fibers. However, they can be murder on your house, thanks to the unique protozoa and bacteria in their gut that allow them to digest on cellulose aka wood. So, naturally, theyre very attracted to the framing and structural elements of your home.
Termites colonize, meaning they set up camp in one place for the long haul, reproducing and growing over days, months, years and decades. Because millions of termites can live in a single colony, the insects are eating the wood of your home 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They will even eat books, carpet backing, furniture and drywall.
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The three most common types of termites are subterranean, drywood and dampwood. Subterranean termites are the most prevalent and can be found in almost every part of the U.S. Subterranean termites enter a home from the ground up, building mud tubes to safely travel between the wood and their underground home. Subterranean colonies can become massive, teeming with millions of termites in one colony.
Generally, the type of termite in your area depends on the environment. Dampwood termites are drawn to moisture-rich wood in the Pacific coastal area, the Southwest and Florida. Drywood termites are typically found in the Southern and coastal states, and a particularly aggressive type of subterranean termite -- the Formosan termite -- is found in the Southern states, the Gulf Coast, California and Hawaii.
All termites feed on wood. True to their names, dampwood termites like moisture-rich wood and drywood termites like dried-out wood.
Drywood termites swarm in spring as the weather warms, looking for new wood to colonize. The swarmers, which look like flying ants, fly in search of openings to enter the wood in your building. These openings include peeling or cracked exterior paint that leaves untreated wood exposed, nail holes, holes from hanging Christmas lights, gaps around windows or door frames, and other minuscule openings.
As the name implies, subterranean termites creep up into your house from the soil below. They can build mud tunnels along basement or foundation walls, or sometimes just through the air, from the ground up to your home.
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Although termites typically pose no health risk to humans, they pose a serious financial risk.
The EPA reports that each year homeowners spend over $2 billion treating termites, and the National Pest Management Association says that termites cause over $5 billion in property damage annually. Most homeowners insurance policies don't cover termite damage because inspecting for and preventing termite infestations is considered part of the homeowner's standard maintenance.
This is why if you notice signs of termite activity, you need to act fast. The longer you wait to control a termite problem, the more costly the damage becomes. An untreated termite infestation in your home can cost tens of thousands of dollars as the house gets eaten from the inside out by these wood-consuming pests.
Yes, fumigation can kill termites. In extreme cases, when termites have made their way into all areas of your home, fumigation can be called for. The most costly solution, fumigation entails enclosing your entire home in a giant, circus-like tent and filling the tent with gas to permeate all parts of your house, killing all hatched termites within.
Fumigation doesn't work on subterranean termites, however. To eliminate these pests, the entire footprint of the home must be treated by drilling and inserting liquid treatments into the slab or foundation of your home. Many pest management companies also offer maintenance plans with regular inspections and warranties that can be renewed annually.
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